Permutation-lock.



I. E. CHRISTIEr I PERIVIUTATIONELOQK. APPLICATION FILED IULYZII 1914. RENEWED FEB. 17.1917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3SHEETS-SHEET I.

I III II'II III A TrdwNEy J. E. CHRISTIE.

PERMU TATION LOCK. APPLICATION HLED JULY 2!, 1914- RENEWED FEB. I7, 1917- Patented Aug. .141 1917.

W/wvEssEs ATTaPA/Ey J. E. CHRISTIE.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 1u1Y21. 1914. RENEWED FEB. 17.1911.

36,402, PatentedAug. 14,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

- ATTORNEY @AT TENT @FFH).

JOHN E. CHRISTIE, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO CHRISTIE COMBINATION AUTOLOCK (30., OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 14, 1917.

Application filed July 21, 1914, Serial No. 852,289. Renewed February 17, 1917. Serial No. 149,378.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN E. CHRISTIE, a

citizen. of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Permutation-Locks,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in permutation locks, and especially to improvements in looks adapted for breaking or closing respectively one or more electrical circuits. Locks of this kind are frequently used in connection with power vehicles driven by combustion engines for breaking or closing the igniting circuit. The lock of the present invention is a permutation lock which may be actuated with out the use of any key.

An object of the invention is to provide a lock structure of this kind including a reciprocating member which can be moved when holding elements are released from looking engagement therewith, and these holding elements can be set selectively to various releasing combinations.

It is an object of the invention to provide a larger number of holding elements than. actually necessary for holding the circuit closing member in inoperative position; the number and arrangement of the actual holding members relatively to all of the holding members being optional with each look.

It is a further object of the invention to provide actuating elements for the holding members, and the actuating elements pre sent all the same appearance, so that persons not acquainted with the combination cannot readily release the proper holding members and efi'ect the closure of a circuit. The looking or holding members or tumblers are arranged so as to be guided in a rectilinear path and are connected with the actuating members which are constructed as finger pieces and which also are guided in a rectilinear path.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indicating device which notifies the owner of the clock that attempts have been made to tamper with the lock, said inclicating or alarm device becoming operative j fore serves as .whenever the wrong combination is manipulated.

It is also an object to provide an indicating device of this kind which after actuation remains operative and prevents thereturn of the holdlng members which have been erroneously or wrongfully set, from returning to their original position until to its ini- The indicating device therea secondary locking means for holding those looking members or tumthe said alarm device is returned tial positlon.

blers which have been used wrongfully, in the position into which they have been moved; and at the same time the indicating device may serve for bridging electric wires of an alarm circuit adapted to render a visible or acoustic signal whenever the wrong combination has been set.

It is afurther object of the invention to provide locking members which normally hold the reciprocating element in circuit opening position and which may be actuated to release the same, in combination with other identical locking members which normally have no influence on the reciprocating more to combine with the holding members or tumblers a locking device which holds said members in moved position and which makes it necessary to use a separate unlocklng member for restoring the same to their prior condition.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing and the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the entire device, part of the cover being removed to show an inner casing, and part of the i11- ner casing also being removed, to illustrate the contents thereof Fig. 2 is an end view of the lock, showing portions of one end wall. removed.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the secondary locking elements.

purpose it is provided the locking members.

Fig. 8 is a similar top plan view of the casing the tumblers and reciprocating memher being removed from the same.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the actuating members or finger pieces.

Fig. 10 is a top view of one of the tumblers.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 11. is a side elevation of one of the finger pieces.

Fig. 12 is a top plan vlew eating member.

Fig. 13 is a section on line a-a, of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, showing a finger key and tumbler in inoperative position.

Fig. 14: is a section on line b-b, Figs. 1 nd 5, showing one of the finger keys operated, without however showing one of the finger keys which would release the circuit closing member, and

Fig. 15 is a section on line a-a, Figs. 1 and 5, showing a finger piece and pertaining tumbler in a position in which the circuit closing member may be operated.

.The device is inclosed in a main casing B to which a cover A may be secured. The cover A is fastened to a flange projecting from the rear wall, by means of hinges 74, and is adapted to close said casing, for which with a lock barrel 54 of any suitable type. A flat base C holding the reciprocating member is secured to the lower portion of the main casing B and f the reciproa box D containing the secondary locking device is disposed above said flat base C. Another flat box E underneath the base C serves as a receptacle for the finger pieces and for the means to restore the same after operation to initial position.

The finger keys are illustrated in Figs. 9, 11 and 13 to 15, and are indicated by the reference characters 1, 2, 3 and 1 in the order from left to right. It is obvious that the arrangement of four finger pieces is shown by way of example only, and that their number may be increased, as desired. They comprise small bars of approximately square cross-section, each provided with a handle projecting downwardly near the front portion. Guiding grooves 4; are formed for these finger keys 1, 2, 3 and 1 by the provision of bars projecting from the bottom of the box E, said bars being either secured to the bottom of said box or serving for this connection.

being integral with the bottom plate. The box E may be fastened to the base C by screws 6. Springs 5 attached at one end "by means of books 11 to the rear wall of the box IE, and at the other end by means of pins or rivets 10 to the rear portion of the actuating elements or finger pieces, serve for restoring said elements to initial position after the same have been actuated.

Each of said elements 1, 2, 3 and 1 is also provided approximately midway of its length, with a socket 7, 8, 9 and 7 respectively, adapted to receive a pin which connects the respective finger element with one of the tumblers or looking members movable in the base C. In order to effect this connection and to allow of longitudinal displacement of the finger keys the bottom wall 57 of the base G is provided with square apertures indicated in Fig. 8 by the referen e characters 12, 1 3, 14 and 12- respecti y.

The base C serves for receiving slidably and 26., said tumblers being adapted for connection with the actuating elements 1, 2, 3 and 1 respectively located underneath the same, pins 29, 30, 3,0 and :29 respectively These pins project from the tumblers downwardly and are inserted into the apertures 7, 8, 9 and 7 of the respective finger pieces. The tumblers 26, 27, 28 and 26 are guided in rectilinear path within the casing by the provision of bars or ledges 16 and one end flange 15, which bars and flange divide the base into compartments in which the tumblers may be moved slidably. Y

. A reciprocating member consisting of a frame 17 is also slidably mounted in the base, the sliding movement of this rectangularframe 17 being however at a right angle to the direction of movement in which the tumblers may be actuated. A projection 20 extending from one of the bars of the frame 17 serves as a support for a block 18 of insulating material which is secured thereto by means of a screw 18, and this block carries a metal plate 19held on the fiber block 18 by means of screws 19.

The wires leading from the spark plug to the generator. (not shown) are indicated at 22 and 23 and are brought in through the rear ledge or wall 58 of said base C from which they are insulated by suitable bush From Fig. 7 it is also apparent that the tumblers 26 and 26 are provided near their rear portions with apertures 31 and 31 extending through said tumblers in a direction parallel to the apertures 29 and 29, while the other tumblers 27 and 28 are provided with apertures 32 and 33 near their front portion, said apertures being also parallel to the apertures 30 and 30 in the last named tumblers. The tumblers 27 and 28 also have pins and 36 projecting from the front portion forwardly, while the tumblers 26 and 26 are provided with pins 34 and 34 respectively extending from these tumblers rearwai'dly. These pins 34 and 34 are adapted to enter suitable apertures 37 and. 37 in the opposite bar of the reciprocating member 17 as shownin Figs. 7 and 12, While the extensions 35 and 36 on the tumblers 27 and 28 are adapted to project into holes 38 and 38, which are drilled through the front part of the same member. Compartments or grooves 39, 40, 41 and 39 formed by the provision of the bars 16 and flange 15 in the base C serve for guiding the movement of the tumblers 26, 27, 28 and 26. Screw holes 42 in the base may receive screws to attach the base to the lower end of the casing B.

The casing Dplaced on top of the base C the interior of the main casing B and resting on the insulating plate 63 serves for receiving the secondary locking members and alarm circuit closers shown at 43, one of said members being illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. Each of said members comprises a block of metal having a reduced rear portion 44 and being provided at its other end with a narrow central metal projection 43, Fig. 5. Each of the blocks 43 is provided with a bore extending vertically therethrough and holding a pin 44 fixedly therein.

Another pin indicated at' 44 extends through the rear portion of each circuit closing member 43 and is slidably mounted in said last named portion. From Figs. 13 and 15 it is apparent that each pin 44 extending through the rear extension '44 of each of these secondary locking members projects into a suitable aperture of a plate 48 which is mounted at the bottom of the inner casing D, and which is located near the rear wall of the same. This plate is provided with a plurality of notches 70, 71, 72 and as indicated in Fi 5, and these notches are adapted to receive the body portions of the secondary locking members. The foot portion of each pin 44. which projects from the member 43 a distance equal to the thickness of the plate 48 and which is rigidly secured in the elements 43. overlies an aperture 74 in the insulating bottom 63 of the casing B. The pins 44 projecting through apertures 74 rest on top of the tumblers 26, 27, 28 and 26 respectively and therefore support the secber 17. In order to release the die.

ondary locking members 43 normally in raised position, as shown in Fig. 13.

A block 53, preferably made of insulating material, is secured to the bottom 63 of the casing D, and two wires 51 and 52 forming the two branches of a circuit containing an electrical alarm device, (the battery and the alarm device not being shown in the drawing), are secured to said block 53. If therefore one of the circuit closing keys or secondary locking members 43 is lowered, the pro jecting portion 43 will come into contact with the two wires 51 and 52 and will thereby close the alarm circuit (not shown) notifying the attendant that an attempt is being made of tampering with the lock. The operation of the device is as follows:

The operator of the lock knows that in the present case, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, it is necessary to shift the two tumblers 26 and 26 in order to allow movement of the reciprocating member 17. If one of these tumblers, as for instance 26, is only shifted, overcoming the spring 5, the member 17 can not be moved, as it is still locked, owing to the engagement of the projecting pin 34 in the pertaining hole 37 of the other tumbler 26. The movement of one of these tumblers 26 or 26 or of both of them together with any one of the other tumblers 27 or 28 will not place the member 17 into releasable position, for if the tumbler 27 or 28 is moved, the projecting pin 35 or 36 will enter the aperture 38 or 38 respectively, and will again lock the reciprocating memmember it is therefore absolutely necessary that all of the holding members or tumblers on which the combination is set. and not more than these finger pieces should be moved.

When the operator moves the two actuating elements 1 and 1, either simultaneously or successively, the tumblers 26 and 26, pertaining to these actuating elements or finger pieces will also be moved, owing to the engagement of the pins 29 and 29 downwardly from the tumblers into the apertures 7 and 7 of the finger pieces 1 and 1. Vhile therefore a movement of any of the actuating elements or finger pieces will result in a sliding movement of the pertaining tumblers, a release of the member 17 can only be eifected when the finger pieces to which the combination has been set have been moved. After the finger pieces 1 and 1 have been slid forwardly the reciprocating member 17 can be shifted to the right, Fig.

projecting 7 by the operator who uses for this purpose the small handle 25 projecting from the casing through the slot, and shifting said han- This will close the circuit through the wires 22 and 23 which lead to the generator and sparker respectively. These last named parts however are not shown in the drawin r as it is obvious to any expert that by this means the sparker circuit may be closed and the engine may become operative.

It is also obvious that after the shlfting of the member 17 into circuit closing position as indicated in dotted lines and upon release of the actuated finger pieces 1 and 1, said fingers will be retracted by means of the springs 5, and their pertaining tumblers will also be retracted whereupon the pins 34 and 34 now enter into the aperture 38 and 38 respectively. The reciprocating member 17 is therefore locked against withdrawal into inoperative position and can only be moved into the position it occupied originally when the same finger pieces 1 and 1 are a gain withdrawn, overcoming the action of the spring 5.

In the movement of the finger pieces 1 and 1 and the coinciding movement of the tumblers 26 and 26 the foot portion of the pins 44 pertaining to the overlying secondary locking elements or alarm circuit closing members 43, will remain in contact with the top surface of the tumblers, as for instance shown in Fig. 15. This will have no material effect on the pins 44, so that the circuit closing members 43 pertaining to these tumblers are left in their elevated position. If, however, the attempt should be made to move any one of the other tumblers 27 or 28 by actuation of the underlying finger pieces 2 or 3, the aperture 32 or 33, respectively will then be moved below the aperture 74 in the insulating plate 63. The spring 50 can now force the secondary locking member fixedly connected with the supporting pin 44 downwardly, so that said pin 44 also enters the bore 32 or 33 of the tumbler which has been displaced erroneously or wrongfully, and the tail element 43 of the same circuit closing member will bridge the two blank wires 52 and 51 thereby closing the circuit of which these two wires form the two branches. The secondary locking member 43 is then in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 14.

The pin 44 of each locking member is loosely guided in an aperture 47, all of these apertures extending through a bar 66 mounted on the inner surface of the top wall of said casing. The upper end of each pin 44 is provided with an external thread. it is then desired to release any of the sec ondary locking members 43 which have been lowered, a key indicated at 47 in Fig. 6 is inserted through the aperture 47 of the bar in which the upper end of the pin 44 is loosely guided, and this key is at its lower end provided with an internal thread indicated at 60 in Fig. 6. This small key is introduced through said aperture 47 and is brought by rotation into threaded engagement with the upper portion of the pin 44; the pin together with the secondary locking element 43 fastened thereon is then drawn upwardly when hen the key 47 is pulled upwardly, overcoming the spring 50. As soon as the lower end of the pin 44 has been withdrawn from the aperture 32 or 33 the tumbler 27 or 28 which has been actuated erroneously or wrongfully will be forced back into its original position by the tension of the spring and the secondary locking member 43 will then remain in the elevated position to which it has been restored. The click produced when the tumbler 27 or 28 is snapped back into its original position is suiiicient notice to the operator that the prior condition of the lock has been restored. He may then unscrew the small key 47 and the lock is ready for use again.

By referring to Fig.7 and Fig. 12 it will be noted that the number of holding apertures in the two opposite bars of the reciprocating member indicated at 38', 37, 38, 37, 3'7 and 38 is in each bar larger than the number of the tumblers held within said member. The movement of the member 17 necessary for producing connection between the wires 22 and 23 through plate 19 is large enough to bring always one of the apertures into opposition with the projecting pin. If after the movement of the member 17, the actuating finger pieces are released the projections on these finger pieces will enter again holding apertures and will now look said member in operative position.

The lock is therefore adapted for holding the reciprocating member in inoperative po- 7 sition or in operative position as desired by the user. It is also adapted to hold the reciprocating member in inoperative position as long as the actuating elements are used in the wrong combination, that is, said member will remain inoperative when more or less actuating elements are used than required by the combination, or when actuating elements entirely different from the actuating elements on which the combination is set have been used. The lock is furthermore adapted to prevent the closing of the main circuit by unauthorized persons who would attempt to try successively different combinations. If one of the wrong actuating elements has once been used, a successive use of the proper actuating elements will not release the reciprocating member unless the wrong actuating element has been restored. In order to restore the wrong actuating element it is necessary to insert a key into the lock F of the main casing, so as to release the bolt 55 from the catch 54, Fig. 1, and to lift the cover A from the casing, and to release the member 43 by means of the restoring key 47 as described.

I claim: 7

1. In a lock, the combination of a reciproeating member, a plurality of spring controlled finger pieces in parallel arrangement, means for guiding said finger pieces in a rectilinear path, a plurality of tumblers controlling said reciprocating member, each overlying one of said finger pieces, pins projecting from the tumblers into the finger pieces for causing sliding movement of predetermined tumblers when finger pieces are moved selectively.

2. In a lock, the combination of a reciprocating member consisting of a frame having transverse bars and side bars, a plurality of apertures extending through opposite bars of the frame, a plurality of tumblers guided in a rectilinear path and located within the space limited by the bars of said member, certain of said tumblers normally locking the member against sliding movement while other tumblers are free from engagement with said member and projections for locking said frame against movement when said other tumblers are actuated.

3. In a lock, the combination of a reciprocating member, tumblers adapted to be set to various combinations for holding the member normally in inoperative position, means for moving the tumblers to release the member and secondary locking members for locking the tumblers which do not form part of the releasing combination, after they have been actuatec.

4. A combination lock comprising a reciprocating member, a plurality of tumblers some of which normally look said member in inoperative position, and means for looking the other tumblers of said plurality after the same have been actuated.

5. In a combination look, a reciprocating member, a plurality of tumblers, some of the tumblers normally locking the reciproeating member in inoperative position, means for actuating said tumblers to release the member, automatic secondary loclzs for the tumblers, said secondary locks being not actuated when the proper releasing tumblers are actuated.

6. In a combination look, a reciprocating member, a plurality of tumblers some of which normally lock the member in inoperative position, an equal plurality of finger pieces for actuating any of the entire plurality of tumblers, an equal plurality of secondary locking members, and automatic means for bringing said secondary locking members into locking engagement with those tumblers which do not hold the reciprocating member normally in inoperative position when said last named tumblers are actuated.

7. In a combination look, a reciprocating member, a plurality of tumblers slidably mounted within said member, means for guiding said tumblers in parallel paths, some of the tumblers normally holding the reciprocating member in inoperative position, secondary locking members connected with all of the tumblers and movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of the movement of the tumblers for locking those of the tumblers which do not normally hold the reciprocating member in inoperative position, when the last mentioned tumblers have been actuated.

8. In a lock, the combination of a reciprocating member, a plurality of tumblers, some of the tumblers holding said member normally in inoperative position while other tumblers normally do not engage said member, means for imparting movement in a certain direction selectively to any of the tumblers, means for returning all tumblers automatically to initial position, and means for preventing the return of said non-engaging tumblers to inoperative position when they have been actuated.

9. In a combination lock, a reciprocating member, a plurality of tumblers some of which normally hold the member in inoperative position, an equal plurality of finger pieces, each in one plane with one of said tumblers and connected therewith and serving for actuating any of said tumblers, secondary locking members, each in one plane with the said tumblers and finger pieces, a spring for each of said secondary locking members, a pin on eachof said locking members, and an aperture in each or" said tumblers, said aperture being brought into registration with said pin when one of the tumblers not normally holding the reciprocating member in operative position is actuated by said finger pieces.

10. I11 a lock, the combination of a recip rocating member, a plurality of tumblers, some of which lock said member normally in inoperative position, and means for locking the remaining tumblers after they have been actuated, said first named tumblers being adapted to lock said reciprocating member in operative position.

11. In a lock, the combination of a reciprocating member, tumblers for locking said member normally in inoperative position, additional tumblers normally free of engagement with said reciprocating member, secondary locking members for holding said additional tumblers in locking engagement with the reciprocating member after they have been actuated, and means for holding said secondary locking members in looking engagement with said other tumblers.

12. In a lock, the combination of tumblers, a reciprocating member normally held by some of the tumblers in inoperative position, the remaining tumblers being normally free of engagement with said reciprocating member and adapted upon actuation of the same to lock said member in inoperative position, secondary locking elements for holding said other tumblers in looking engagement with said member, and detachable means for releasing said secondary locking members from engagement with said other tumblers.

13 In a lock, the combination of a reciprocating member provided with a plurality of apertures, tumblers slidably mounted within said member and provided with apertures and with projections, the projections of certain tumblers being normally in apertures of said reciprocating member, while other tumblers do not project therein, finger pieces in engagement with all of the tumblnrs and adapted upon actuation to withdraw individually the projections from said apertures in the reciprocating member, secondary locking members, spring controlled pins mounted on said secondary locking members, said spring controlled pins being forced into apertures of the other tumblers when the same are actuated by said finger pieces.

14. In a lock, the combination of a box Copies of this patent may be obtained for containing actuating elements, a base containing a reciprocating member and turnblers surrounded. by said member, a casing, secondary locking elements mounted in said casing, finger pieces connecting elements extending from the box to the base for uniting the finger pieces with the tumblers, and pins on the secondary elements adapted to project from the easing into the base for connecting the tumblers With said secondary locking elements.

15. In a lock, the combination of slidable finger pieces individually and selectively operable, tumblers permanently connected with said finger pieces, a reciprocating member controlled by the tumblers, and spring controlled secondary elements for locking some of the tumblers when they have been actuated by said finger pieces.

FnANK J. ALEXANDER, E. 0, Zn I-IAGEN.

Washington, D, G, 

